hiding-place, had to speak in mere whispers. All the men were now gathered about the great steel box.
This receptacle had been closed by a solid metal door, which was screwed and clamped tight. Then one of the men examined a number of heavily insulated electric wires that extended from the box off into the darkness where Tom and his companions could not discern them.
"That's Folwell—the man I befriended, and who got me into this game," whispered Mr. Jenks. "He was also one of the first to turn against me. I think he's one of the leaders."
Folwell came back, after having gone into a dark part of the cave. He went over to an electrical switch on one of the stone walls.
"It's almost time," Tom heard him say to his confederates. "The storm is coming up rapidly."
"Will it be severe enough?" asked one of the helpers. "We had all our work for nothing last time. The flashes weren't heavy enough."
"These will be," asserted Folwell. "The indicator shows nearly a million volts now, and it's increasing."
"A million volts!" exclaimed Tom. "I hope it doesn't strike anywhere around here."
